Abbott Academy

Chapter 6- Montgomery Winslow

The weekend flew by in what felt like a matter of minutes. I didn't hear much from Branson and when I did, I blew him off. I did some retail therapy to feel the void and avoid the post on "The Courtyard". The hallways on Monday seemed to have a whole different vibe. I sat down in Chemistry class at my table with Alexander. "Have a good weekend?" He asked. He seemed off almost nervous.

"Of course." I smile. The bells chime overhead. "Listen, Alex, I know this great little sweet shop in walking distance. Go with me after school?"

"Absolutely." The teacher walked in and began teaching.  

School blew by almost as fast as the weekend did. I sat in every class trying to avoid people's whispers, but I could still hear them. Everyone had something to say about me and Branson fighting and the two of us storming off. Also, the talk of the Bradford's bathroom kept coming up. It was not abnormal for someone to hook up with another at a party. I would also say it's not abnormal for it to be a topic of interest to everyone at Abbott. I ordered my ice cream cone from the guy behind the counter at the sweet shop. I take it from the guy and walk outside to wait on Alexander. He comes out carrying a small box of macaroons. We walk back towards the school. "So the mixer, what did you think?" I ask.

"Definitely not what I'm used to."  

"Well, you looked like you fit in really well. I finally broke down and read the post on "The Courtyard." and people were a big fan of your blazer." I tease.

"Wait, what's The courtyard?" He asks.

"It is this social media app that basically the whole school uses to gossip and share important information. This week's party was a big topic all week. Here I'll show you" I pull my phone out from my backpack. I open the app and scroll down the main news feed. "See" I point to my phone pointing out the post about the party. "I had been avoiding this stupid app all weekend because all everyone seemed to talk about was how Branson and I got into a huge fight." I snicker. "I guess I decided to get on again after hearing someone talking about two people hooking up in the bathroom." Alexander's box of macaroons hit the sidewalk. I stop walking and look over at him. He seemed to turn white, almost like he had seen a ghost or he was one. 

"Oops." He tries to recover and picks up his box. "Um so wait what happened?"

"Yeah so evidently someone got it on in the bathroom at the Bradford house." I pause. "Did people not hook up in England?" I ask with a laugh. 

"No, no they did." He nervously laughs. We start to walk down the sidewalk again. "So someone posted about this?"

"Yeah."

"Did they say who it was?"

"No, you are totally acting strange." I pause as I realize. "OMG, it was you wasn't it?" You hooked up with someone!" I swat his arm playfully. "Who was the lucky guy?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."  

"Alexander don't play stupid." 

"I'm not. I'm just now hearing about it. I don't need you on my case." He retorts. "Listen I have to go. See you tomorrow." He storms off across the road toward the Sinclair's house. I'm left again in utter confusion about what happened. I too keep walking until I arrive home. Nellie greets me at the door. 

"Hello, Miss Montgomery." She smiles as she grabs my bag. "How was your day."

"Weird. Just glad to be home." I walk up the stairs to my room. I decided to hop in the shower to decompress from this very odd Monday. As I get out I hear my phone ringing, it's Lilybeth. I answer her soft voice comes through the phone and even though she just said hello I can tell she was concerned. 

"Hey, everything okay?" I ask.

" I mean I could be better because you have no idea what I just heard," she exclaims.

"Oh gosh what?"

"Okay, but like you can't be mad at me. Also, you know how much I hate gossip."

"Lilybeth just tell me! Also, I have something to tell you about too!." I pause. "You know what I'll just go first. I went to the sweets shop with Alexander today and he was being so weird."

"That's kinda why I'm calling." The line goes silent between the two of us until I speak up.

"What?"

"So I overheard that it was Alexander in the bathroom today."

"That's what I thought! He totally acted strange when I brought it up so I asked him. He stormed off afterward."

"M it was him and I know who else was with him." she sounded serious.

"Who?"

"I heard it was Branson." My heart sank. No way it was Branson. No way he would do that. "I heard it from a reliable source too." She adds.

"Who?" 

"Alexander himself." She states. 

"You think he's lying? We barely know him and to trust him with something like this..."

"It's true M." I hang up the phone and sit in dead silence. I stare at the wall in disbelief. No way this was happening to me. Branson and I had been together for so long. Not to mention Alexander who I had taken under my wing, felt sorry for, and considered him a friend. Only one thought crossed my mind and I decided to follow through with it. I pick my phone back and type: "Branson Bradford and Alexander Sinclair are the Bradford bathroom bandits. xoxo M"